History of Rotarians at Work Day.
In 1911, Rotarians adopted the motto "Service Above Self." Past RI President Carl-Wilhelm Stenhammar, selected “Service Above Self” as the theme for 2005-2006. Through the vision of Past District 5340 Governor Bob Watson 2005-06, every Rotarian in the world had the opportunity to renew our commitment to this timeless message of compassion and generosity of spirit by participating in Rotarians At Work Day.
The first Rotarians at Work Day was on April 29, 2006. 60 clubs within District 5340 came forward and identified one or more projects that they performed. Many clubs partnered with other clubs including those in Mexico in District 4100, and nearly all of the clubs integrated other groups to assist such as Rotaract Clubs and Interact Clubs. Rotarians planted trees and performed much-needed maintenance to our communities’ highways, senior centers, a variety of public buildings such as schools, and parks. All in one day!
Today, Rotarians at Work Day is a Rotary International initiative spanning the globe. Not every District does it on the same day, but Rotarians can be seen globally wearing their Rotarians at Work shirts while performing service in their communities. This year, District 5340 is conducting its Rotarians at Work Day, April 27, 2024.